WCDA Secures Guilty Verdict

Conviction in Trial Involving DUI (Methamphetamine) Causing Substantial Bodily Harm

 The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has announced that a recent felony DUI case has resulted in a guilty verdict last week in District Court. The defendant was charged with one count of Driving Under the Influence of a Controlled or Prohibited Substance Causing Substantial Bodily Harm stemming from a March, 2018 accident that resulted in the victim of the accident sustaining an amputation of his left foot. Sentencing in the case is scheduled for June 6, 2019 in Department 1 of Washoe County District Court. The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.

 The March 22, 2018 accident was investigated by the Nevada Highway Patrol’s (NHP) Major Accident Investigation Team that determined the driver, Eric Justin Christiansen 44 yrs. (DOB7/29/74) was operating a Nevada Department of Transportation snow plow on State Route 431 near mile marker WA3 in Incline Village when he crossed into the oncoming lane causing the blade of the plow to strike a pickup truck driven by a 62 year old Kings Beach man. The victim in the crash sustained an open fracture of his left leg and was transported to Renown Medical Center where he had to have his foot amputated. The subsequent investigation by NHP determined that Christiansen was under the influence of methamphetamine when the crash occurred. Christiansen was arrested and the case proceeded to trial.

 At trial, Deputy District Attorney Adam Cate argued that winter weather did not absolve someone of their responsibility for causing a collision, especially when they were high on methamphetamine.